Windrow harvester



April 28, 1942. 1 D R r 2,281,059 I WINDROW HARVESTER Filed June 30, 1939 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l I RALPH L. ANDERSON LVI OEHLER ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1942.

R. 1,. ANDERSON ETAL WINDROW HARVESTER Filed June 30, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W- on? @ORNEYS.

April 1942- R. L. ANDERSON ETAL 2,281,059

WINDROW HARVES TER Filed June so, 1959 4 Sheet s-Sheet s I w as RALPH L ANDERSON ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1942.

L. ANDERSON ETAL WINDROW HARVES TER 4 Sheets-Sheelt 4 FIG? INVENTO'RS RALPH L. ANDERSON OEHLER A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 28, 1942 WINDROW HARVESTER Ralph L. Anderson and Alvin W. Oehler, Moline, Ill., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois Application June 30, 1939, Serial No. 282,026

9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and. more particularly to windrow harvesters, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved windrow harvester, light in weight but strong and durable. Another object relates to the provision of a windrow harvester frame having a crop discharge opening of increased area, but without sacrifice of strength or durability. In the accomplishment of this object, the harvester platform is supported at its inner end solely upon the front transverse beam and the upper rear transverse beam without the use of arched construction over the opening, as in the prior art. Additional rigidity is obtained by diagonal cross braces in the platform frame.

Another object relates to the provision of simplifled means for driving the platform conveyor. A more specific object is the provision of a power transmitting connection from the power take-off shaft of a tractor to the platform conveyor for driving the latter in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the power take-ofi shaft but without the use of reversing gears and other expensive equipment. In accomplishing this object we have employed a belt drive connection from a pulley on the driving shaft to a pulley on the driven shaft, the two runs of the belt being carried over one or more pairs of idlers mounted on acommon axis, the belt being crossed or reversed between the idlers and one of the pulleys so that the pulleys rotate in opposite directions.

Still another object relates to the provision of manual control means by which the platform can be stopped and the grate or catcher in the discharge opening can be simultaneously interposed when the windrower begins making a turn at the end of the field and then after the turn has been completed, the platform drive can be restored simultaneously with the retraction of the grate. By this means, the harvesting is continuous but the discharging of the crop into a windrow is discontinued during the turns so that when the crop is gathered the tractor need not run over a windrow. A related specific object.

has to do with a rope controlled device by which one pull on the rope stops the conveyor and raises the grate, and the next pull on the rope starts the conveyor and lowers the grate.

A further object relates to the provision of simplified and improved mechanism for adjusting the height of the reel by means of an adjusting lever on the hitch frame and which is connected to both ends of the reel but which is not appreciably affected by adjustments of the windrower frame relative to the hitch frame.

A further object relates to the provision of bracing means associated with the hitch, which has the effect of counteracting the drag on the grainward end of the frame and maintains the latter substantially perpendicular to the line of advance. A related object has to do with the provision of a limited amount of yielding of the bracing means in order to facilitate turning of corners.

These and other objects and advantages will U9 apparent after a consideration of the following description in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a windrow harvester embodying the principles of the present invention and in which a small portion of the frame extension at one end of the implement is broken away;

' Figure 2 is a complete plan view of the frame extension showing the yieldable bracing means for holding the main frame substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the implement;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the windrow harvester in which a portion of the frame extension at one end is broken away;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of one end of the windrow harvester showing the complete frame extension including the bracing means illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the windrow harvester as viewed from the stubbleward end of the implement;

Figure 6 is a side elevation drawn to a larger scale, of the mechanism for simultaneously controlling the drive to the platform conveyor and the crop catcher grate in the crop discharge opening; and

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a modified form of the harvester frame in which a portion of the frame extension at one end is broken away.

Referring now to the drawings, the windrow harvester, or windrower, comprises a generally transversely disposed frame structure It supported on a pair of laterally spaced ground wheels H, l2, and adapted to be drawn by a tractor or other suitable draft device, as illustrated by the drawbar l3 to which the windrower frame is connected by a suitable hitch M. The windrower frame comprises a front transverse beam l5 and a rear upper transverse beam I6 extending substantially the entire width of the frame.

At the stubbleward end of the windrower frame is provided a box-like wheel supporting frame 20 which includes a lower rear transverse1 bearing1 l dis osed beneath the stubbleward port on o e vupger rear transverse beam i5 and connected thereto by vertical frame members 22, 23, fixed to opposite ends of beam 2|, respectively. The wheel supporting frame further includes a alit 2: 23' connected between the front transverse beam I5 and the lower rear transverse member 2|, and an upper fore and aft extending frame member 24 connected between the upper rear transverse beam l6 and a vertical member which extends upwardly from the forward transverse beam l5. Suitable diagonal bracing members 26, 21 are provided in the side and rear of the wheel supporting frame structure 20 for bracing the latter. The stubbleward supporting wheel II is journaled on a short axle which is supported for vertical adjustment relative to the frame 20 by more or less conventional adjusting means which consist briefly of gears 3|, best shown in Figure 5, disposed on opp site ends of the axle, and engaging racks 32 formed on one of the inside surfaces of a pair of inverted U- shaped supports 33, respectively. An adjusting gear 34 is also mounted on theaxle 30. Both ends of-the axle 30 are simultaneously raised or lowered by means of a manually operated adjusting crank 35 which is connected at its forward end to a worm (not shown) disposed in a housing 36. The worm is in operative engagement with the worm gear 34so that rotation of the crank 35- causes rotation of the axle 30, which in turn causes the gears 3| to roll up or down with respect to the rack 32. The crank 35 is loosely supported in a plate 31 to accommodate swinging movement thereof as the worm housing 35 travels vertically'relative to the frame with the wheel Ii. The U-shaped supports are mounted on two of the fore and aft extending frame members 23.

A conventional cutter bar and reciprocating sickle, indicated generally by the reference :numeral 40, extends from the wheel supporting frame 20 to the grainward end of the windrower frame and is supported on the front transverse beam I5. ,The cutter bar performs the usual function of severing the grain from the field, after which the grain is deposited on a transversely moving canvas platform conveyor 4! which moves the grain in a stubbleward direction toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1, and 1 discharges it into an opening 42 in the frame III to form a windrow. The grain that is cut di- -rectly in front of the frame opening 42, falls directly into the latter. The platform conveyor 4| comprises an endles canvas having slats 43 fixed thereto, and is wound about a pair of rollers (not shown) which are rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the rectangular platform frame, indicated generally by reference numeral 44. The platform frame 44 includes a lower rear transverse beam 45 disposed below the grainward portlonof the upper rear transverse beam l5 and of fore and aft extending frame memnected by a bolt 68 to the draft device I3.

extend upwardly and forwardly and connected to the vertical frame members 48.

The inner roller in which the canvas is mounted, is fixed to a shaft 55 which is suitably journaled at its forward end on the transverse beam l5 and at its rearward end on the lower rear beam 45 adjacent the inner end thereof. A vertical frame member 56 extends from the inner end of the lower rear beam 45 upwardly to the upper rear beam I6. Sheet metal panels 51 are supported between the upper and lower rear members and extend from the grainward end of the frame inwardly and terminate at the vertical frame member 56 to provide a back board. Thus there is an unobstructive opening in the back board of the windrower between the rear vertical frame members 23 and 56, which opening extends unobstructedly to the upper rear transverse beam IB. Hence the entire platform portion of the windrower is supported at its. inner end entirely by the front transverse beam l5 and the upper rear transverse beam l6, and thus providing a maximum, size of crop discharge opening and thereby minimizing the possibility of grain clogging in the opening;

Heretofore it has been the general practice to construct windrowers with some form of arch or truss construction above the discharge opening in the back board, in order to obtain a. strong and rigid platform frame. We have found, however, that this arch or truss construction can be eliminated to provide the maximum size discharge opening if the rectangularframe is properly braced, and to this end we have provided diagonal cross braces 52 between diagonally opposite corners of the rectangular platform frame 44, and experience has proven that with this con- I operated adjusting crank 6| is provided for actuating the adjusting mechanism 60.

The tractor hitch l4. comprises a pair of generally longitudinally extending draft beams 55, 66, converging forwardly and fixed to a coupling plate 61 whichis adapted to be pivotally con- The laterally spaced rear ends of the draft members 65, 66 are interconnected by a transverse frame member 10 and intermediate braces 69 to form a rigid frame which is pivotally connected for movement about a transverse axis to the forward end of the windrower frame by aligned pivot bolts H. With the forward end of the hitch l4 supported on the draft member I3, the windrower frame can be tilted to raise and lower the cutter bar 40 by means of an adjusting lever 12 pivotally mounted at I3 0n the hitch l4 and connected by a link 14 to a second lever 15 which is also pivoted at 13 on the hitch I4. The lever 15 is connected to the upper forward corner of the wheel supporting frame 20 bymeans of a connecting link 16. A counterbalancing spring 11 is connected between the lever 15 and a lug 18 which is fixed to the hitch frame i4. A notched sector 19, also mounted on the hitch frame I4, is adapted to be engaged by suitable latch mechanism (not shown) on the lever 12. to hold the frame in adjusted position.

A harvester reel 80, including a reel shaft BI, is journaled in suitable bearings 82 on a pair of supporting arms 83 which are pivoted to the upper rear transverse beam I6 by means of pivot bolts 84. The reel is swung about the axis of the bolts 84 by means of a hand lever 85 pivotally connected by a bolt 85 to one of the braces 69 on the hitch I4. The reel adjusting lever 85 is connected by a link 8! to a second lever,88 pivoted on the bolt '86 and connected by second link 89 to an arm 90 which is fixed to a transverse rock shaft 9I journaled in laterally spaced bearings 92 on the wheel supporting frame 20.

A second arm 93 fixed to the rock shaft, is con- 1 nected by a link 94 to the forward end of the inner reel supporting arm. 83. A third arm 95 on the rock shaft 9|, best shown in Figure 1, is connected to a chain 95 which extends rearwardly therefrom and is trained upwardly over an idler 91 journaled on the lower rear beam 2| from which the chain extends upwardly to a second idler 98 from which the chain 96 extends outwardly and is connected to a rod 99 which extends across the rear of the backboard. The outer end of the rod 39 is connected to a chain I which is trained downwardly over the idler IOI to a lower idler I02 (Figure 3) from which the chain I00 extends rearwardly and upwardly to a connection with the rearward extension I03 of the grainward reel supporting arm 83. Hence, a

movement of the hand lever 85 is transmitted from the rock shaft 9I simultaneously to both the reel supporting arms 83 at opposite ends of the reel 80, thus insuring uniform distance between the reel 80 and the cutter bar 40 across the width of the windrower. Since the pivot connection between the link 89 and arm 90 is substantially coaxial with the pivot bolts 'II-, about which the tractor hitch I4 pivots with respect to the windrower frame, any tilting movement of the latter by the lever I2 does not disturb the setting of the reel above the cutter bar. counterb'alancing spring I05 is connected between the arm 95 and 2. lug I06 fixed to the windrower frame.

The reel is driven from the stubbleward ground wheel II by means of a pulley H0 fixed to the wheel II and rotatable therewith. The pulley H0 is connected by a belt III to a second pulley H2 journaled on a shaft II 3 which is supported at one end thereof on the inner reel supporting arm 83, and at the opposite end thereof on a member II 4 whichis fixed at its forward end to a frame member H5 which converges to a point of connection with the reel arm 83. The rear ends of the fram members H4 and H5 are pivoted by means of bolts 84 to the upper rear beam I6, coaxial with the pivot bolts 84 of the reel supporting arms as. A third pulley us is rotatably mounted on the shaft I I3 and driven by the pulley H2 and is connected by means of a belt Ill to a pulley H8 mounted on the reel supporting shaft BI and connected thereto through a slip clutch device H9 which is adapted to slip should the reel encounter an obstruction such as a rock or stump in the field. It will be noted that the interconnected pulleys H2, H6 are journaled on the reel supporting arm 83 and adapted to swing vertically with the latter when the reel is adjusted. The shaft H3 is mounted as near as possible to the axis of the bolts 84, 84' to minimize the variation in distance between the shaft H3 and the axis of the wheel II. However, in order to maintain the belt III tight and allow for this change of distance, a pair of belt tightening pulleys I20, I2I, are held in contact with the belt III by supporting arms I22 which are adjustably mounted on the rack member 33.

The platform conveyor 4| and the cutter bar 40 obtain power from the power take-01f shaft I25 of the tractor which is connected by means of a detachable coupling I26 through a universal joint I21 to a tubular shaft I20 journaled in a bearing I29, which is supported on the hitch I4 by links I30 which are pivoted to a pair of trunnions I3I, extending from opposite sides of the bearing I29, and thus allowing fore and aft movement of the tubular shaft I28 as the tractor tilts relative to the hitch I4. The tubular shaft I28 is slidably connected to a shaft I32 which telescopes within the tubular shaft but is non-rotatable relative thereto. The shaft I32 is connected by a universal joint I33 to a power shaft I34 rotatably journaled in bearings I35 which are mounted on the frame members 22 and 25. The shaft I34 is connected by a chain and sprocket connection I36 to drive the cutter bar through a forwardly extending shaft I31 journaled in suitable bearings in the frame 20 and having at its forward end a suitable pitman connection I38 with the sickle.

- The inner roller of the platform conveyor M is driven by means of a belt I40 preferably of the V-belt type which is trained over a driving pulley I 4I on the rear end of the power shaft I34, and over a driven pulley I42 on shaft 55 on which the roller is mounted. The pulley I42 is connected to the shaft 55 through a conventional slip clutch mechanism, indicated generally by reference numeral I39, for the purpose of interrupting the drive in case the conveyor is stuck. Both runs of the belt I40 are carried up over a pair of idlers I43 journaled coaxially side by side on a supporting shaft I44, but adapted to rotate independently in opposite directions. The shaft I44 is suitably fixed to the upper rear beam I6 at one of the upper corners of the opening in the backboard. A second pair of idlers I45 is mounted on a stub shaft I46 at the opposite corner of the grain discharge opening and the two pairs of idlers I43, I45 serve to carry the two runs of the belt I40 over the grain discharge opening.

Inasmuch as the power take-off shafts of most tractors run in a clockwise direction when viewed from the rear, it is necessaryto obtain a reversal of direction between the power shaft I34 and the platform pulley I42. This is conveniently accomplished by reversing the belt I40 between the idlers I 45 and the pulley I42, as best shown in Figure 3. The arrows show the direction of rotation of the pulleys MI, I 42 and the direction of travel of the runs of the belt I40. In order that the V-belt seats properly in the idlers I43, I45, that is to say, with the sides of the belt converging downwardly, the lower run of the belt is twisted one-half turn between the idlers I43 and the driving pulley I 4|, while a similar twist is applied in one of the runs of the belt between the idlers I45 and the pulley I42,-as indicated. This belt drive provides a very simple and inexpensive driving connection to the platform conveyor and eliminates the necessity of bevel gears. Referring more particularly to Figure 6, the driving pulley MI is connected to the power shaft I34 through a manually operated clutch com prising a jaw clutch element I50 connected to the drive pulley MI and adapted to coact with a second jaw clutch element I5I fixed to the shaft I34. The pulley MI is slidable axially on the shaft I34 and is yieldably held in the connected position of the clutch by means of a compression spring I52 acting between the pulley MI and a washer I55 held at the end of the shaft I34 by a bolt I54. The pulley is moved axially outwardly to disengage the clutch elements I55, I5I-, by meansof an arm I55 having a roller I55 iournaled at its outer end and adapted to bear against the side of the pulley MI. The arm I55 is fixed to a rock shaft I51, one end of which is iournaled in a bracket I58 fixed to the vertical frame member 22, the other end being rockably supported in a bracket I55 fixed to 25 adjacent the cropdischarge opening.

The rock shaft I51 is rocked by means of a lever I59 pivoted on a bolt I55 which is supported on the bracket I55. A generally rectangular cam I55 is journaled on the bolt I55 between the bracket I58 and the lever I59. Engaging this cam is a cam following roller I55, journaled on an arm I51 fixed to the rock shaft I51 and preferably cast integrally with the clutch control arm I55. Each of the short sides of the rectangular cam I55, is provided with a shallow recess I55a adapted to receive the cam following roller I55, and each of the long sides of the cam is provided with a shallow recess I55b. Thus in one revolution of the cam I55, there are four normal seating positions of the roller I55 and as the cam is rotated from each position to 'the succeeding position, the arm I51 is reciprocated between two angularly spaced positions. This reciprocating movement is transmitted through the arm I55, effecting opening and closing movements of the clutch jaw I55 relative to the clutch member I5I, and at the same time rocking the rock shaft I51 for purposes which will be explained later. The cam I55 is rotated by the lever I59 through the medium of a notched disk member I55 preferably formed integrally with the cam I55 and rotatable with the latter about the bolt I55. The disk I55 is thus positioned between the cam I55 and the lever I59, and its face adjacent to the lever I59 is formed with four thickened portions I59, each of which terminates in a shoulder I15.-

The four shoulders I are parallel to four radii of the disk I58 spaced v90 degrees apart, but are 1 offset from the latter a distance of half the width of the lever'I59 in order that the upper edge of the lever I59 may bebrought into abutment with each of the shoulders I15, successively, the shoulders I15 being disposed in overlapping relation to the lever I59 when the latter is held against the face of the disk by means of a compression spring "I which is coiled about the bolt I55 and reacts against a securing nut I12. Each of the raised portions I59 is inclined from the shoulder I15 toward the surface of the disk and merges with the latter along a line substantially 90 degrees with respect to the shoulder I15, as best illustrated in Figure 6. It will now be understood that-by pulling the lever I59 forwardly about the axis of the bolt I55 preferably by means of a rope I59 under control of the tractor operator, the upper edge of the lever will engage the adjacent shoulder I15 of the disk I58, thereby moving the disk and cam I55 with the lever I59 as the roller I55 on the arm I51 rolls from the notch I55b in one of the long sides of the cam to the notch I55a in one of: the, short sides of the cam, and thus moving the clutch from connected to disconnected positions or vice versa. When the lever I59 is released, it is returned to normal position by means of a spring I13 which is connected between the upper rear transverse beam' l5 and an extension I14 of the lever I59. As the lever retums'to normal position, it is cammed outwardly by inclined surthe vertical frame member face of the raised portion I59 against the action of the spring "I until it clears the edge of the succeeding shoulder I15, whereupon the spring I forces the lever under the shoulder and eady for another actuation. Thus it is now clear that successive forward actuations of the lever, alternately open and close the clutch members I55, I5I.

- Within the crop discharge opening 42, is disposed a generally horizontal crop catcher I in the form of a grate comprising a transversely disposed head I8I mounted on the front-transverse beam I5 by means providing for rocking movement about a transverse axis. Fixed to the head I8I and extending rearwardly therefrom, is a plurality of laterally spaced grate bars I52 which extend across the opening in the platform portion of the windrower frame. 'By rocking the head, the grate bars can be moved between a lowered'position in which the ends of the bars nearly scrape the ground, and a raised position in which the grate bars I82 incline upwardly and rearwardly. In the lowered position of the grate, the harvested crop from the cutter bar 45 and from the platform conveyor 4|, falls upon the stubble which extends upwardly beyond the grate bars. The stubble engages the crop and allows the grate bars to withdraw therefrom as the implement moves forwardly, thereby leaving the crop in a windrow. When the grate is raised, however, the bars I52 are disposed above the stubble and therefore retain the crop discharged upon it from the cutter bar and from the platform conveyor. It is desirable to raise the grate and stop the platform conveyor while the implement is making a turn in order to provide a clear space for the tractor and harvesting implement at a later time when the windrowed crop is gathered. To this end, therefore, the grate head I8I is provided with a rearwardly extending arm I83, best shown in Figure 1. To this is connected a chain I84 which extends upwardly to a pulley I85 fixed to the frame, and then rearwardly to a connection with a downwardly extending arm I85 on the end of the rock shaft I51. By this means when the lever I59 is pulled forwardly, not only is the clutch I55 disengaged to stop the platform conveyor H, but the rocking of the rock shaft I 51 acts through the arm I55 and chain I84 to raise the grate I55. During the turn the drive to the cutter bar is, of course, not interrupted and therefore the harvested grain merely falls upon the stationary conveyor 4| and the raised grate I85, but after the turn is completed, the operator actuates the lever I59 a second time, which lowers the grate and starts the conveyor 4! once more and thus discharges the accumulated crop through the discharge opening 42.

Due to the fact that the hitch I4 is offset toward one end of the windrower frame, there is a tendency for the grainward end of the frame to lag behind and this tendency is even more pronounced when a left turn is made. To counteract this tendency to lagbehind, a bracing member I is provided. The bracing member I95 comprises a tubular member I9I pivotally connected at its forward end by a bolt I9 I to any of a row of optionally selected apertures, I93 in the tractor drawbar or draft device I3. A bar I92 is telescoped within the tubular member I9I and is connected by a pivot bolt I92 for vertical swinging movement to a clevis I94 which is connected to the outer end of an extension I95 to the windrower frame. The frame extension I95 includes a beam I96 extending laterally in a stubbleward direction beyond the hitch I4 and in alignment with the front transverse beam I5, '8. rearwardly and inwardly extending brace I91 connected between the outer end of the beam I96 and thestubbleward end of the lower rear beam 2|, 9, rearwardly and upwardly extending brace I99 from the outer end of the beam extension I96 to the end of the upper rear transverse beam I6 and an upwardly inclined brace I99 extend- I ing from the outer end of the beam extension- I96 and connected near the upper end of the vertical frame member 25. Resilient means are provided for exerting a force tending to extend the telescoping brace I90 in the form of a compression spring 200 coiled about the telescoping members I9I, I92 and reacting at its forward end against a flange 20I weldedto the tubular member I9I, and at its rearward end against a collar 202 slidable along the bar I92 and fixed in any position of adjustment by a set screw 203. Thus it is evident that by properly adjusting the pressure of the spring 200, sufiicient force will be exerted between the draft device I3 and the outer end of the frame extension' I95 to counteract the tendency of the opposite end of the frame to lag behind. When the tractor makes a left turn, the pivotal movement of the drawbar I3 with respect to the hitch I4, will cause a further compression of the spring 200, which will assist in preventing the opposite end of the windrower from lagging behind during the turn. The brace I90 swings vertically with respect to the windrower frame I together with the hitch I4.by virtue of the pivot bolt I92 which is practically in alignment with the hitch pivots II Figure 7 shows a modified form of the windrower frame employing a novel form of arched construction in thebackboard over the crop discharge opening. In this embodiment a pair of bracing beams 205, 206 are disposed in upwardly converging relation from the lower rear beams 2|, 45, on opposite sides of the crop discharge opening, respectively, and fixed at their upper ends to the upper rear transverse beam I6 substantially over the center of the opening. A horizontal brace is disposed below the upper ear beam I6 and interconnects the converging beams 205, 206 near their upper ends, and defines the upper end of the opening in the rear of the windrower frame. An

arched panel 208 is fixed between the converging beams 205, 206, and the upper beam I6.

In this embodiment a single pair of belt idlers I45 are journaled on a common axis for the purpose of carrying the two runs of the belt I40 over the opening. the above described embodiment, the belt is reversed between the driving pulley HI and the driven pulley I42. I

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a windrower, a transverse wheel supported frame structure having an opening for discharging harvested crops into a windrow, said frame structure comprising a front transverse beam and a rear upper transverse beam extending substantially the entire width of the struc- .ture, a lower rear beam disposed below said upper rear beam and extending from the outer end of said frame structure to said crop discharge opening, a backboard extending between said upper and lower rear beams, there being an unrestricted opening in the frame rearwardly of said front beam'and beneath said upper rear beam, a cutter bar mounted on said frame, and

In this case, however, as in a platform conveyor for moving said crops from said cutter bar to said discharge opening, means for driving said conveyor including a drive shaft mounted on the frame at one side of said discharge opening extending axis, a driving pulley mounted on said shaft, a driven pulley associated with said conveyor'and mounted on the frame on the opposite side of said discharge opening'from said driving pulley, a power transmitting belt trained over said pulleys, and a pair of idler pulleys disposed side by side on said upper transverse beam above saiddischarge opening and journaled for independent rotation on a common axis, the two runs of said power transmitting belt being trained over said idler pulleys, respectively.

2. In a windrower having a transverse frame, a pair of laterally spaced ground wheels journaled thereon, a cutter bar mounted on said frame, a tractor hitch pivoted to said frame near one end thereof for swinging movement about a transverse axis, and control means for adjustably fixing said hitch relative to saidframe in selected positions of angular adjustment, a reel supporting frame pivotally connected to said transverse frame providing for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, a control member mounted on said hitch for controlling said vertical swinging movement of said reel frame, and connections between said control member and said reel frame comprising a rocking member mounted for rocking movement about an axis adjacent said pivot axis of said tractor hitch, and pivot means connecting said rocking member with said control member and said reel frame, one of said pivot means being disposed substantially coaxial with said pivot axis of the tractor hitch.

3. In a windrower having a transverse frame, a pair of laterally spaced ground wheels journaled thereon, a cutter bar mounted on said frame, a tractor hitch pivoted to said frame near one end thereof for swinging movement about a transverse axis, and control means for adjustably fixing said hitch relative to said frame in selected positions of angular adjustment, a reel supporting frame pivotally connected to said transverse frame providing for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, a control lever pivotally mounted on said hitch, means for locking said lever in adjusted position, a transversely disposed rock shaft journaled on said frame adjacent said transverse pivot axis of said hitch, a connection between said rock shaft and said lever, and a connection between said rock shaft and said reel frame, one of said connections comprising a pivot disposed substantially on said transverse axis of the tractor hitch.

4. In a windrower having a transverse frame, a pair of laterally spaced ground wheels journaled thereon, a cutter bar mounted on said frame, a tractor hitch pivoted to said frame near one end thereof for swinging movement about a transverse axis, and control means for adjustably fixing said hitch relative to said frame in selected positions of angular adjustment, areel supporting for rotation about a. fore apd'aft 6 prising a pivot disposed substantially on said transverse axis of the tractor hitch, and a flexible connecting member connected to said rock shaft and trained over pulleys mounted on said frame and connected to the opposite end of said reel shaft.

5. In a windrower comprising a transverse frame having an opening therein for discharging harvested crops into a wlndrow, a cutter bar mounted on the frame and a conveyor for moving crops from said cutter bar to said opening, means for driving said conveyor including a power shaft, a disengageable clutch driven thereby, and

, driving connections from said clutch to said conveyor, a crop catcher in said opening and adapted to move between crop retaining and crop discharging positions, and control mechanism including a rocking member, connections between said rocking member and said clutch and said catcher, a rotatable control member connected to said rocking member to rock the latter upon rotation of the former, and a ratchet mechanism including a reciprocable lever adapted to engage said control member when the lever is moved in one direction, the return movement of the lever being independent of said control member, and a rope connected to said lever and under control of the operator,whereby one actuation of said rope effects a disconnection of said clutch and a retraction of said catcher, and a successive actuation of said rope effects a reconnection of said clutch and an interposition of said catcher.

6. In a windrower, a transverse frame having an'opening in the bottom and rear thereof for discharging harvested crops into a windrow, said frame comprising a front transverse beam and a rear upper, transverse beam extending substantially the entire width of said frame, wheel supporting frame members disposed at one end of said transverse frame and connected between said front beam and said upper rear beam, a lower 'rearbeam disposed below said upper rear beam and extending from the other end of said transverse frame to said crop discharging opening, fore and aft extending frame members at opposite ends, respectively, of said lower rear beam and connected between the latter and said front beam to form a rectangular platform frame, a ground wheel journaled at the outer end of said frame,

vertically extending frame members extending from opposite ends, respectively, of said lower rear beam to said upper rear beam, a back board extending between said vertical frame members and between said upper and lower rear beams, there being an unrestricted opening in said frame rear- 4 wardly of said front beam and beneath said upper rear beam, betweenthe inner vertical frame member and said wheel supporting frame, a. transverse platform conveyor for moving crops to said opening, and means for driving said conveyor comprising a drive shaft mounted on said frame at one end of said discharge opening below said upper beam, a driven pulley associated with said conveyor and mounted on the lower portion of said frame at the opposite side of said discharge opening from said driving pulley, a power transmitting belt trained over said pulleys, and two pairs of idler pulleys, each pair being disposed side by side and journaied for independent rotation on a common axis, said pairs of pulleys being supported on said upper beam adjacent opposite sides of said discharge opening, respectively, each of the two runs of said belt being trained over a pulley of each of said pairs of pulleys to hold the belt above the lower edge of said beam.

7. A windrower frame comprising, in combina tion, a front transverse beam and a rear upper transverse beam extending substantially the entire width of the frame, awheel supporting frame at one end thereof comprising frame members connected between said beams, a lower rear beam disposed below said upper rear beam and extending from the other end of the windrower frame to a point spaced from said wheel supporting frame to provide an opening through which harvested crops are discharged into a windro'w, a vertical and a fore and aft extending frame member connected between the inner end of said lower rear beam and said front beam and said upper rear,

lower rear beam and said front beamand upperrear beam, respectively, to provide a platform frame and back board frame, and a pair of diagonal cross braces for stiffening said platform frame, the inner end of the latter being supported solely on said front and upper rear beams.

8. In a windrower having a transverse wheel supported frame structure having an opening for discharging harvested crops into a windrow, a cutter bar mounted on said frame, and a platform conveyor .for moving said crops from said cutter bar to said discharge opening, means for driving said conveyor including a drive shaft mounted on the frame atone side of said discharge opening for rotation about a fore and aft extending axis, a driving pulley mounted on said shaft, a driven pulley associated with said conveyor and mounted on the frame on the opposite side of said discharge opening from said driving pulley, a pair of idlers mounted on said frame on each side of said opening, each pair being jour naled for independent rotation about a common axis, and a power transmitting belt trained over said pulleys, each of the two runs of the belt being carried over one of each of said pairs of idlers, respectively.

9. In a windrower having a transverse wheel supported frame structure having an opening for discharging harvested crops into a windrow, a cutter bar mounted on said frame, and a platform conveyor for moving said crops from said cutter bar to said discharge opening, means for driving said conveyor including a drive shaft mounted on the frame at one side of said discharge opening for rotation about a fore and aft extending axis, a driving pulley mounted on said shaft, a driven pulley associated with said conveyor and mounted on the frame on the opposite side-of said discharge opening from said driving pulley, a pair of idlers mounted on said frame on each side of said opening, each pair being journaled for independent rotation about a common axis, and a power transmitting belt trained over said pulleys, each of the two runs of the belt being carried over one of each of said pairs of idlers, respectively,'said belt being reversed between one of said pairs of idlers and the adjacent pulley, whereby the driven pulley is rotated in the opposite direc- 

